The Earl of Gosfordpresented a Petition from the Innkeepers and Coach-proprietors on the road from London to Holyhead, against the amount of fares charged for the Post-office packets plying between Holyhead and Dublin. Notwithstanding the great difference of the distances between Liverpool and Dublin, and Holyhead and Dublin, the charge from Holyhead was 11. 4s. 6d., while that from Liverpool was only 1l. 7s. 6d.
§ The Duke of Richmondassured his noble friend that the petition should receive his most attentive consideration. At the same time he suggested, that the mail-coach proprietors between London and Holyhead ought themselves to reduce their fares, as their own high charges had quite as much effect in deterring passengers from going by the mail on that road as the post-office charges. A memorial on the subject had been already laid before the Commissioners of the Treasury, and they 1158 had come to a decision upon it. He could not promise to his noble friend that he could induce them to alter that decision. All he could promise was, that he would give an attentive consideration to the prayer of the petition.
§ Petition laid on the Table.